More than 300 of the world’s oldest classics are getting ready for this year’s London to Brighton. Here’s how to see them in action
LONDON TO BRIGHTON VETERAN CAR RUN HYDE PARK TO MADEIRA DRIVE. SUNDAY 5 NOVEMBER, FROM 6AM.
The Veteran Car Run, more commonly referred to as the London to Brighton Run, is a mainstay of the classic calendar, and this Sunday’s run is no exception.
It pits cars of heroic vintage against town and city driving, the intensity of the open road, and the British weather in November.
Last year’s Run was hit by a deluge resulting in flooded Genevieve hit the silver screen, with both Genevieve and a Spyker from the film joining around 300 cars.
So, where’s best to see these magnificent machines, both in action and standing still? You’re in luck as there are plenty of opportunities.
St James’ Palace Concours
The St James’ Palace Concours returns the day before the run with a selection of cars and bikes from the field filling Marlborough Road next to the royal residence.
With judging and prize givings, this open event is the perfect opportunity to get up close to these enthralling machines and chat with the drivers, navigators, passengers and in some cases stokers to learn more.
Last year’s event, despite the soggy conditions, was an upbeat affair with a brilliant selection of cars, and prizes awarded to category winners by Edd China and Alan Titchmarsh.
If you’re feeling in the mood, there’s also a streets in Brighton. However, the event is back for its 127th year and is celebrating 70 years since the film classic auction held by RM Sotheby’s next door. The concours starts at 10:30am, a far more reasonable start time compared to Sunday…
The start
It’s a ‘crack of sparrows’ start for these cars. Entrants arrive in the paddock from 6am, and the starting flag is dropped at sunrise with cars departing until 8:40am.
The start line is set in Hyde Park and the route from there sees the cars wend their way past Constitution Hill, The Mall, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Place before setting their sights out of the capital and on towards the halfway halt at Crawley.
After Lambeth Place, the route splits into two stre
